Sequential appearance of thymocyte subpopulations and T cell antigen receptor gene messages in the mouse thymus after sublethal irradiation

Journal Article · Tue Dec 15 04:00:00 EST 1987 · J. Immunol.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5591976

Tomooka, S; Matsuzaki, G; Kishihara, K; Tanaka, K; Yoshikai, Y; Taniguchi, K; Himeno, K; Nomoto, K

The sequential differentiation patterns of thymocyte were observed with cell surface phenotypes and the expression of T cell antigen receptor in 800 rad irradiated adult mice. Thymus was severely reduced in size and cell number by day 5 after whole body irradiation and rapidly recovered from day 7 to day 14. Surface marker analysis on day 5 after irradiation showed thymocytes with Thy-1low L3T4+/Lyt-2- dominantly existed and suggested that these cells were radioresistant-survived cells. On the other hand, thymocytes on day 7 were composed of a large number of Thy-1high L3T4+/Lyt-2+ blast-like cells and a relatively high proportion of Thy-1high L3T4-/Lyt-2- cells which expressed a large amount of gamma-chain gene messages but scarcely any alpha- and beta-chain gene messages similar to the fetal thymocytes. On day 14, thymocytes were composed mostly of Thy-1high H-2low L3T4+/Lyt-2+ subpopulation which expressed a remarkably low level of gamma-chain gene messages, and high levels of alpha- and beta-chain transcripts analogous to those of normal adult thymus. Taken together, intrathymic radioresistent stem cells for T thymocytes seem to proliferate and differentiate after irradiation with the same pattern as was seen in a fetal thymus development.

• Research Organization: Kyushu Univ., Fukuoka, Japan
• OSTI ID: 5591976
• Journal Information: J. Immunol.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Immunol.; (United States) Vol. 139:12; ISSN JOIMA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560152* -- Radiation Effects on Animals-- Animals
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMAL CELLS
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
BLOOD
BLOOD CELLS
BODY
BODY FLUIDS
CELL DIFFERENTIATION
CHIMERAS
CONNECTIVE TISSUE CELLS
EXTERNAL IRRADIATION
GENE REGULATION
IRRADIATION
LEUKOCYTES
LYMPHATIC SYSTEM
LYMPHOCYTES
MAMMALS
MATERIALS
MICE
MOSAICISM
ORGANS
PHENOTYPE
RADIATION CHIMERAS
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIOSENSITIVITY
RODENTS
SOMATIC CELLS
SUBLETHAL IRRADIATION
THYMOCYTES
THYMUS
VERTEBRATES
WHOLE-BODY IRRADIATION